Costa Rica Update from Cliff Hulbert (June pt 1 of 2)

Costa Rica Update from Cliff Hulbert (June pt 1 of 2)

The following is Part 1 of a two part Osa, Costa Rica Update written by Cliff Hulbert. Cliff and his wife Ana own and operate Villa Leonor at the Ballena Beach Club. It is the only location in the Ballena National Park region that has a restaurant walking distance to the beach.

Villa Leonor is only 15 minutes from Las Villas de San Buenas and is a wonderful place to eat and to visit the beach. Ballena Beach Club collage

We hope you enjoy it…..

The High Season came to a close with a clear increase of the awareness, discovery and visitors in the Ballena to Ojochal sector. We still are a fraction of the numbers that frequent long time favorites like Manuel Antonio and Arenal but our steady progress of growth in numbers and awareness has us coming up on the radar of travelers more and more frequently.

The Humpback Whales made an early appearance this season with regular encounters beginning by mid December and continuing through late March.

The Guava seed pod season attracted the White Face Monkeys again to leap from the nearest palm into the tree, cruise through the branches breaking open the pods and dropping the seeds on us after eating the sweet pulp around them.

Also an increase of arrivals by the Scarlet Macaws who would occasionally spend part of the day, one day in a group of eight, another day a pair was viewed flirting around various trees on the grounds.

The final event of the sea-son was the Oranje Trophy group of exocentric vehicles and fun lov-ing Dutch drivers on their 25,000 Km journey from New York City to Rio de Janeiro for the Futbol Mundial. The local Ojochal Team hosted a traditional Futbol en La Playa (Beach Soccer Game) with the Oranje group, the local boys prevailed; the Dutch Team seemed a bit sluggish, which they blamed on the altitude …but invited the victors to their Boca Buffet and drinks.

Now on to the Green Season, in many ways more pleasant than the Dry Season …. Come See Us at The Beach!

Cliff Hulbert Ballena Beach ClubCliff Hulbert & Ana Herrera
Owners
Villa Leonora at the Ballena Beach Club


Mamones Chinos A Costa Rica Fruit Treasure

costa rica mamon chino fruit
Mamones chinos are starting to fruit for the 2014 season. Que rico!

Costa Rica is home to hundreds of fruits, and in particular, the Osa Peninsula’s weather patterns provides the perfect environment for growing mamones chinos. I love mamones chinos as much as guanabana’s. The main advantage of mamones chinos versus guanabana is the ease of eating.

What is a ‘mamon chino‘?

A mamon chino is a fruit that grows on trees (most fruits do grow on trees but a few don’t) and is harvested once a year. To eat one, you simply pluck it off the tree, rip the skin of with your teeth, which will generally open in two or three large pieces, then eat the sweet, white fruit. There is an almond-like seed in the middle of each fruit, so you have to eat and suck off the fruit from the seed. Once you are finished eating the fruit you spit out the seed.

Eating mamones chinos will definitely get your hands sticky and they are a bit messy to eat as the easiest way to eat them is with your hands and utensils will not help.

The name of the fruit tells you a lot about the food. mamon is from the word mamar, meaning ‘to suck’. Chino comes from “China”. Therefore, the ‘mamon chino’ is the Chinese sucking fruit.nick halverson mamon chino

We’ve planted several in Las Villas de San Buenas, and just this last weekend one of our customers requested that we plant a couple
near his home. It takes a couple of years after planting for it to start producing fruit.

Nick Halverson
CEO, Las Villas de San Buenas
nick@villassanbuenas.com

 


Best Sandwiches in Costa Rica?

One of the most common questions we get from prospective customers, outside of safety (yes – it’s very safe here) and government stability (democracy for over 140 years), is about food. The Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica has an incredible number of great restaurants and local sodas. It is very difficult to find a location that serves bad food in this area – those restaurants simply don’t survive. Whether you want a quick traditional meal (casado) or a formal dinner at places like Citrus in Ojochal, there are dozens of culinary options within 15 minutes of Las Villas de San Buenas.

Today I had lunch at the Roadshack in Uvita (about 15 minutes north of Las Villas de San Buenas). Roadshack

Roadshack Uvita costa rica collage
Best sandwich shop in Costa Rica? Maybe…

has been open for about a year, and I’ve known Bob the owner for a couple of years now (he’s an avid mountain biker – send me a note if you want more info about the trail he’s building nearby) and enjoyed his restaurants before. I’ve had some of the other delicious sandwiches here.

Today I ordered the ‘Costanera’ sandwich which is turkey, bacon, pepper jack cheese, peperoncinis and basil mayo. Wow! Amazing flavor and plenty of food. I quickly ate half of it and debated about bringing the other half home with me to eat later. However, my tastebuds overruled my rational side and I gladly finished the other half as quickly as the first half.

Each sandwich cost around $11 (5,500 colones) and includes homemade potato chips and a bottomless glass of iced tea. There’s free wifi available and plenty of covered seating and a full bar if you’re looking for a margarita. I don’t know if there is a better sandwich shop in all of Costa Rica, if there is, I haven’t found it. If you have your own opinion about the subject send me a note, but I feel Roadshack has the best sandwiches in Costa Rica.

If you’re planning on living in the area or simply passing through, be sure to drop by the Roadshack in Uvita (don’t forget to say ‘Hi’ to Bob).

Nick Halverson
President – Las Villas de San Buenas
nick@villassanbuenas.com


Yum!! Shrimp skewer from Ballena Beach Club

Costa Rica is home to some of the world’s best seafood with a variety of options available. From fresh shrimp and red snapper to tuna and ceviche, the variety and different types of

Ballena beach club lunch
My shrimp skewer meal at Ballena Beach Club

preparation make it a wonderful place to eat!

This was my meal last Sunday afternoon at the Ballena Beach Club (which is adjacent to Ballena National Park, about 15 minutes from Las Villas de San Buenas). It was wonderful!!

If you ever find yourself in/around Uvita, be sure to visit the Ballena Beach Club.

Pura vida!


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